Fence post brace



Dec. 26, 1961 T. G. DE VILBISS 3,014,701

FENCE POST BRACE Filed Oct, 20, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 (A INVENTOR BY WZM ATTORNEYS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS Ff M45455 Dec. 26, 1961 T. G. DE VILBISS FENCE POST BRACE Filed Oct. 20, 1959 tes 3,014,701 FENCE POST BRACE Tom G. De Viibiss, Pearsall, Tex. Filed Oct. 20, 1959, Ser. No. 847,575 1 Claim. (Cl. 25635) This invention relates to a fence post brace and has as its primary object the provision of a brace which may be employed either temporarily or permanently for sup porting fence posts in proper vertical alignment.

An additional object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character which may be employed for realigning fence posts which have for any reason tilted or become angularly displaced.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of such a device whichv may be employed as a permanent reinforcement for spacing fence posts one from another,

1 or supporting them in proper alignment against a prevailing force, such as the pressureof cattle against a fence from one direction, or the like.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of such a device which is sturdy and durable in construction; reliable and efiicient in operation, and relative stantially along the line 22 of FIGURE 1, as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 of FIGURE 1, as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows;

FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view of a slightly modified form of brace showing one method of operation; and

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 4 but showing a still further modified form of construction.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Having reference now to the drawings in detail, the device of the instant invention which is generally indicated at comprises a tubular member 11 which may be a pipe, of one or two inch diameter, or any other desired diameter, and of any suitable length.

One end of the tube 11 is' provided with a reducer 12 which is suitably threaded thereon, as indicated at 13 (see FIG. 3), and which has at its reduced or smaller end a series of internal threads 14. These threads 14 are engaged by the threaded extremity 15 of a rod 16, which rod is provided at its extremity with a socket or opening 17. The rod 16 isalso provided with a transversely extending handle bar 18 of any desired length for effecting rotation of the same.

The tubular member 11 is preferably provided at a suitable point adjacent the end opposite that which carries the reducer with aligned bores 19 and 19 therethrough through which extend a stake or pipe 29 which is adapted to be inserted in the ground, for the purpose of preventing turning of the tubular member 11 when the rod 16 is turned by means of a handle 18.

In the use and operation of one form of the device, one end 21 of tubular memberll is seated in a suitable notch 22 of a post 23. The other end of the device is 3,014,701 Patented Dec. 26, 1961 adapted to be positioned over a nail 24 carried'by a post 25, the nail seating in the socket 17. The stake is then driven firmly into the ground to prevent turning of is preferably threaded, and may, as shown in FIGURE 4,

have threaded thereon a collar 27, to which is secured an extension 28. The extension 28 carries an L-shaped member 29 one leg of which is adapted to be driven into the ground, and the upper leg 30 of which may serve as a surface to be hammered or driven into the ground. In

the embodiment as disclosed in FIGURE 4, the end of the device engages only a single post a, for the purpose of reinforcing the same against pressure from the side opposite the brace.

Obviously the extension 28 may be of any desired length, and the L-shaped member 29 may be suitably secured thereto in any desired manner, as by means of a bolt having a head, as indicated at 31, and suitably secured to an interior collar, the like not shown.

A still further modified form of the use of the device is disclosed in FIGURE 5, wherein the threaded end 26 of the tube 11 is suitably buried in the ground G and reinforced by rocks R, cement, or the like. When so employed, the L-shapedrnember 29 need not be used. However, in this modification, or when used in this manner, it is desirable that the stake 20 previously described be employed in order to prevent turning of the tubular member 11 when the handle 18 is rotated.

From the foregoing it will now be seen that there is herein provided an improved fence brace, which accomplishes all. of the objects of this invention, and others,

including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

As many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept, and as many modifications may be made in the embodiment hereinbefore shown and described, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

' Iclaim:

In a fence brace, the combination comprising a hollow tubular member, a reducer element secured to one end of said tubular member and having a threaded opening therein, a threaded rod engaging in said threaded opening,

a transverse handle rigidly fixed medially thereof for rotating said threaded rod, portions of the free end of said threaded rod defining a socket for engagement with a projection on a fence post, a ground engaging stake spaced inwardly from the other end of said tubular member and extending transversely through the same to prevent rotation thereof relative to said threaded rod, a collar fixed to the end of said tubular member, an axially extending member secured in said collar and having an L-shaped member secured to the free end thereof, one leg of said L-shaped member comprising a ground engaging portion, the other leg comprising a pressure receiving surface.

1 7 References (Zited in the file of this patent UNITED STATESPATENTS 942,592 Schneider Dec. 7, 1909 962,271 Thompson et a1. June 21, 1910 1,177,327 Hindmarsh Mar. 28, 1916 1,504,494 Parsons Aug. 12, 1924 1,802,373 Byers Apr. 28, 1931 

